Back Pain

Back pain is the single most common cause of absence at work and costs the country millions of pounds every year in lost man hours. In recent years more and more people are experiencing this crippling condition due to the changing nature of work and home lifestyles. In effect the human body is not designed to sit for prolonged periods of time and adapts to this lack of activity. The muscles meant to move and support the spine and joints get lazy and weak resulting in an inability to respond properly when we demand more from them. Hence the spasm and pain felt when trying to do even simple tasks such as pick a towel up from the floor. If nothing is done to restrengthen these muscles then the episodes of pain will inevitably become more severe, prolonged and frequent, leading to a chronic condition. Never was the phrase "get on your bike" more appropriate. The best way to prevent back pain developing is to increase the amount of exercise the body is exposed to, whether in a gym, up a mountain or on a running track. It is also essential to include an element of core stability training either with a gym ball, abdominal ex's or pilates for example. In other words use the muscles as they were meant to be used!